Gibbons Prepares to Take On Boswell in Iowa’s 3rd CD
- Thursday, November 19, 2009, 4:17
- Iowa, News Center, Top Story
- 3,066 views
- 31 comments
Former Iowa State wrestling Coach Jim Gibbons wants to be the third district’s next member of Congress. Gibbons brings the unique perspective of an athlete, coach, father, husband, and financial advisor to his congressional campaign. However, after talking with him for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon, it is clear that Gibbons’ drive, determination, and competitive nature are what will set him apart from Congressman Boswell should he win the Republican nomination next June.
Gibbons attributes his drive, determination, and work ethic to his father, who taught him to never accept defeat. “In order to succeed, you must a have a goal and a plan that allows you to achieve it,” Gibbons told TheIowaRepublican.com. At a young age, Jim Gibbons found success. At Ames High School, he won three state titles. At Iowa State University, he was a three-time All-American and won a national championship during his junior year.
When his collegiate wrestling career was over, then-ISU coach Dr. Harold Nichols, offered Gibbons a job as an assistant coach. When Nichols retired in 1985, Gibbons was named head coach. He coached seven individual NCAA champions while compiling a 96-32-1 career coaching mark. After winning the NCAA Championships in 1987, Gibbons was named national coach of the year. He was named Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1991 and retired from coaching after the 1992 season.
Since leaving coaching, Gibbons has been a financial advisor, most recently with Wells Fargo Advisors in West Des Moines. He also serves as a television commentator, providing color commentary for ESPN, The Big Ten Network, and Iowa Public Television. In 2003, he was named broadcaster of the year by the National Wrestling Media Association.
It’s been 17 years since Gibbons has entered an arena as a competitor, but when he files papers with the Federal Election Commission today, he will begin one of the most difficult matches of his life. Jim Gibbons is now a candidate for Congress in Iowa’s third district. The opponent he is preparing to take on is seven-term incumbent, Leonard Boswell.
In talking to Gibbons about the race yesterday afternoon, it’s clear that he plans to give Boswell everything he’s got. Gibbon’s told TheIowaRepublican.com, “I’m concerned about the direction of the country. Spending is out of control in Washington; it’s unsustainable. The larger government becomes, the fewer freedoms people have.”
Gibbons isn’t just flirting with the idea of being a United States Representative, he is in it to win it. “I’m burning the boat and attacking the island,” Gibbons added.
Gibbons talked about three specific bills that Congressman Boswell supported which he feels are out-of-touch with the values of central Iowans. Gibbons takes issue with the federal stimulus package that he says stimulated nothing but big government. While Democrats in Congress said it was needed to keep unemployment under eight percent, Americans are actually now dealing with ten percent unemployment. He is also critical of the health care bill that the house passed earlier this month and the cap and trade bill, which Gibbons believes could have dire consequences to our economy if passed into law.
Having been around a lot of candidates over the years, Gibbons might be one of the most prepared and determined candidates I have ever come across. In talking with him, you quickly realize that he is preparing for his congressional race just as if he was preparing for a wrestling match.
Gibbons shared with me his definition of success. He said you first have to set your goal – in his case, winning a seat in Congress. Then he told me, you have to determine what you are going to sacrifice to achieve that goal. Gibbons talked about how he would mentor his athletes as their coach. If they wanted to be a national champion, that meant they were not going to be going out on Friday nights. Or, if you want to be a good husband, it means you might not get to shoot a couple rounds of golf with the guys.
For Gibbons, the sacrifice that he will make is a pay cut and time away from his family. Gibbons has spent the last three weeks telling his clients that he is resigning his position with Wells Fargo in order to run for Congress full time. The next part of Gibbons’ definition of success is to associate with people have done what you are attempting to do before (or associate with those who are currently trying to accomplish a similar goal). And finally, Gibbons said he has to “work the plan.” Right now, “work the plan” means focusing on fundraising and building a campaign staff.
Iowa Republicans have had good luck in converting wrestlers into members of Congress. Both Jim Leach and Greg Ganske were wrestlers who took down incumbent congressmen when they won their respective seats. Gibbons is preparing to do the same.
Jim met his wife Anne while attending Iowa State. They have been married for 21 years and have two teenagers and a new born. The Gibbons’ are Catholic and are members of the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines.
About the Author
Craig Robinson has written 452 stories on this site.
Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.
31 Comments on “Gibbons Prepares to Take On Boswell in Iowa’s 3rd CD”
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A formidable opponent for Boswell is great news. Voting for Leonard again would be an ill-advise investment.
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/congress/?q=node/77530&pid=45520
“Iowa’s 3rd District Congressional Candidate Dave Funk of Runnells, welcomes the announcement today of Jim Gibbons’s entry into the race for the Republican Nomination. Funk says that ‘Coach Gibbons will bring welcomed competition into the race to unseat Leonard Boswell and to restore loyalty and respect for our Constitution and the people of Iowa’s 3rd District in Washington’ “.
For more information go to; http://www.CongressNeedsFunk.com
When and where is Gibbons moving so that he actually lives in the 3rd district?
When is Tom Harkin going to get a place in Iowa?
How long has Mike Denklau lived in Council Bluffs – and why?
Hey Blago…
Gibbons lives in Des Moines..that’s part of the 3rd District.. .Nice try.
Peggy — stop perpetuating the Harkin doesn’t live in Iowa lie – so funny how you all FOX news that lie and keep it alive.
I’ve known Jim and Annie for years. In fact, I go to mass with them at the Basilica. They are great social and fiscal conservatives. Jim will be a great candidate for Congress. I’m proud to support him.
Where does he “live in Iowa” and how many days out of the year does he set foot on the property?
Just watch, after redistricting the Bahamas will get gerrymandered into Iowa. Hello bikinis! Giggidy giggidy goo!
Gibbons will be a great. Boswell has always been vulnerable but you have to have the right candidate. I think we may finally have the one.
Wait a second… if I remember correctly, Dody Boswell substitute teaches in Missouri.
Oh my! That’s quite a commute for a woman her age.
Anybody remember the beaut that Illinois Repubs pulled maybe a decade ago when, late in the campaign, their candidate for US Senator was found to have attempted forcing his wife to have public sex with other men (yes, plural) at some private sex club?
The State Repubs, upstanding moral paragons of virtue that they were, very quickly brought in a total, utter, whacko FROM MARYLAND, Alan Keyes, to be the GOP man on the ballot for US Senator from Illinois.
Hah!, we Iowans are amateurs.
Yeah, and Arkansas is just about as close to New York as Maryland is to Illinios. Hillary Clinton anyone?
I disagree that Alan Keyes is a “whacko.” What are you, a racist?
Sorry Peggy, I have met Mr. Keys and as much as I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, he is a whack job!
It is funny how social networking sites tell much about you. ZoomInfo is a business networking site — it is a site that you put your own info up for social-business networking. Jim’s ZoomInfo clearly states (before they chance it in about 3 minutes) Jim Gibbons – Perry, Iowa. Hmmm — that isn’t the 3rd District. Here is what Jim’s Zoominfo says: Jim Gibbons
Investment Representative
Edward Jones Limited
Perry, Iowa
Employment History
Investment Representative
Edward Jones Limited
Commentator
College Wrestling
ISU Wrestling Assistant
Iowa State
Head Wrestling Coach
Iowa State
Has to be the same guy.
And – after a quick call to my sister in Perry to ask – she said “oh yeah the Gibbons live out near the country club”. What is going on here?!?! Scandal already?!?!?!?
I checked it out – he lives in Des Moines. and p.s. the site you are referencing also says he works for edward jones – he hasn’t for years.
Jim Gibbons, who leaves his clients in a lurch yet again (this is the 4th investment firm he has been with since he left coaching…) by many measures is clearly not the best candidate to run against Boswell that the Republicans can come up with. I believe he will quickly be relegated to the 2nd tier of candidates for this office along with Dave Funk (who might of self destructed his own campaign with a poor interview with CaffinatedThoughts.com on November 17 where among other gaffs the former flat taxer introduced a new Project Destiny like consumption tax as a part of his tax policy). It is not surprising Gibbons announces today with NO website, no way to contact his, no way to donate, and no way to volunteer for his campaign. This is clearly the work of a rookie campaign, which does not bode well. Clearly, this race needs an exprienced candidate with outstanding conservative credentials. This development makes it even more likely a top tier candidate like Senator Brad Zaun, with great metro popularity, a tested message, an very experienced campaign team, and a firm record in the party will enter the race.
mirage sez: “This is clearly the work of a rookie campaign, which does not bode well”
Hah! In re my comment over on Emily’s Pals&Pics thread, perhaps this guy needs to hire himself a scumbag that’ll teach him how to also be one.
By the way Jim, you mention in your release that you told your clients for three weeks that you were leaving…..did you have the intregity during that time as you were taking your check from Wells Fargowhile working as their employee to inform your boss you were leaving prior to informing your clients?
Top tier conservative Senator Brad Zaun? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen those words in a sentence before… but I digress. Brad Zaun is the most pro-gay member of the Republican Senate Caucus. Check his voting record.
blondie, the voting record is clear. Zaun is on record as one of the signers of the petition for the defense of marriage act.
That is solid conservative.
Defense of Marriage? Which wife is Brad Zaun on?
I like Brad Zaun. He’s a nice guy and a good state legislator. But, I’ve never gotten the feeling that he’s an intellectual giant, or even someone who would have a clue about a lot of federal issues. Plus, I’ve also heard a lot of rumors about his personal life. He might have it together now, but messy divorces can come back to haunt you.
I just don’t think he’s congressional material.
confirmed….Zaun will enter the race………
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/11/iowa-legislator-to-join-gop-ra.html
My my…Looks like the staff weenies over at IDP were busy on the blog today.
Are you guys over there a little threatened by a Gibbons candidacy?
Mirage…(what an appropriate name for a Democrat supporter)..what ya scared of over there? Thought you guys were all confident about 2010…
Hawk..I am very confident about 2010….we have solid republicans in nearly every race now…and with Zaun now confirming he will be running, he will have an excellent chance to unseat Boswell.
That is great news.
“Are you guys over there a little threatened by a Gibbons candidacy?”
Understatement of the century!
Whenever the lefties start Palinizing someone, you know they’re scared witless. Ol’ Lenny may as well pack ‘er in right now.
Mirage, The truth says that Brad Zaun has twice had a bank begin foreclosure proceedings against him. Twice Wells Fargo has had to start that process to take back Senator Zaun’s house because he doesn’t pay his bills. With a congress that can’t pay its bills, is it the time to elect a congressman that doesn’t even pay his own?
Mr. Truth, let’s say we talk a little truth. Who among us hasn’t struggled at one time or another in their life? So, let’s finish your story – Brad Zaun did pay his bills, and he paid them in full. Mr. Zaun had the courage and the determination to step up and take care of business. Those debts were paid in full because he was willing to work hard and do what was necessary to do the right thing. That’s exactly the kind of leadership I am looking for in Congress – someone who understands the problems that many of us are facing every day in these difficult times, and someone who has lead by example by working hard to do the right thing rather than look for the easy way out. What I’m NOT looking for is a Republican candidate who sends his surrogates out to immediately launch sleazy old news personal attacks against fellow Republicans – let’s talk about issues and results and act like Republicans. There’s already enough sleaze on the left.
When this same issue was brought up two campaign cycles ago, Zaun addressed it head on and discussed in detail his struggles as a small businessman and the sacrifices it took to compete in good and bad times against the Lowe’s and Home Depot’s of the world, and in lean economic times what had to be done to pay employees, keep the doors open, and feed the family, even if some bills had to be deferred. Zaun, who could of taken the easy way out and walked away like so many others do (TARP and government bailouts didn’t exist at that time) instead used sweat equity to pay back every dime owed…and walked in the same shoes as many a farmer, small businessman, union employee and others in this district who faced tough times, yet through hard work came out better on the other side. I, and I will bet you many many others in this district, will be very proud to vote for someone with that kind of life experience who made such a positive of it.